There are a few things to consider when choosing the best carry on travel bags. We’ll go through each and every question, in this comprehensive guide. ✈️
6 best carry on travel bags
- Compact Size: Travel bag size: 18.5 x 8.7 x 14.2 inch. Toiletry bag size: 9.4x 1.6 x 5.5 inch. Meets most carry-on requirements. 37L large capacity can hold any travel essentials.
- Ultra Lightweight: Weekender bag weights only 0.88 pounds. Lightweight and soft nylon fabric makes your carrying comfortable.
- Shoe Compartment: Travel duffel bags with shoe compartment at The bottom, which can be used for shoes and clothes storage. Separated design is helpful for shoes keeping and ideal for women who need an extra pair of shoes or clothes in specific places.
- Toiletry/Makeup Bag: Personal item travel bag with toiletry bag, which can storage cosmetics, skin care products, and other small parts of travel accessories.
- One Bag for All: Perfect travel Tote bag for women. It can be used as duffel bag, gym bag, sports bag, weekend bag, hospital bag and overnight bag. Suitable for business travel, short journey, fitness, outdoor activities, etc.
- Carry-on Size： It extends to 18 x 14 x 8 inches with 40 Liters capacity. You can bring this carry-on duffel with you on the airplane as complies with the Spirit Airlines & Frontier Airlines personal item restrictions.
- Foldable & Lightweight： This duffle can be fast folded into itself with a compact size, only 1/20 of regular size luggage. This overnight weekender bag can be folded in your luggage as a spare bag for souvenirs or clothes when traveling.
- Easy Carrying： It comes with stitched grip handles and an adjustable shoulder strap. The back pouch is designed to fit over the handle of a common suitcase for easy carrying.
- Durable & Fashionable： Made from water-resistant and tear-resistant fabric with premium zippers. Stylish colors allow you to quickly find your bag on the go.
- Multipurpose： Easily held all your gym or travel items, great choice as a weekend bag, Overnight Bag, gym bag, sports bag, workout bag, travel tote bag, hospital bag, carry on luggage.
- 【LARGE CAPACITY TRAVEL BAG WITH USB CHARGING PORT+SHOE COMPARTMENT+FREE SEPERATE TOILETRY BAG】this travel bags for women combine with USB charging port,offers an easy access to charge your phone on the go. personal item travel bag with the shoe compartment,you can hold your shoes or dirty clothes for easy separation from clean clothes when traveling,The main compartment can fit 3-4days travel essential items.A large zipper pocket on the front, for storing your daily necessities.
- 【FLIGHT APPROVED CARRY ON BAGS FOR AIRPLANES】Sizes- 18.5x 8.7x 14inch,LOVEVOOK duffle bag for women meets most international carry-on requirements. Fits in the overhead compartment as well as the under seat as Personal Items in flight. Integrated trolley sleeve slides over rolling luggage handle making airport travel a breeze.One zippered pocket on the back to hold your smart phone, IDs or passport.Your ideal overnight weekend boarding bag for business or personal travel.
- 【DRY WET SEPARATED GYM BAG &WEEKENDER BAG】The weekender bag for women with high density water resistant material,It can help you to separate dry items and wet items,if you have wet small item or towel,you can put it in this gym bag for women. Our womens gym bag is a perfect reliable companion for outdoor . It is perfect for workout,travel,tennis,yoga,swimming,camping and many outdoor activities.This sports bag has bottom compartment with 2 air vents to disperse the bad smell of shoes.
- 【MULTI-POCKET DUFFEL BAG &OVERNIGHT BAGS FOR WOMEN】the duffel bag women with total 12 pockets to keep your personal items organized,1 separate shoe compartment, 1 main compartment, 1 front organized compartment, and 2 Elastic side pockets provide multi-functional for your shoes, laptop,iPad, clothes, toiletries, shoes, and other items. Featuring with classy and gorgeous appearance, LOVEVOOK travel duffel bags reach morden urban ladies greatest demand and fantasy on travel bag.
- 【MULTIPURPOSE HOSPITAL BAG& PERFECT SERVICE】You can use it as a mommy bag for hospital,duffle bag for travel,travel tote bags for women,workout bag, gym bags for women, carry on bag,shoe bag or laptop bag. it can also be used as a Christmas gift,suitable for family, friends, and partners. With LOVEVOOK's reliable after-sales service and fine craftsmanship, We promise that if you are not satisfied within one month, you can refund unconditionally.
- ✅【Perfect Dimensions and Airplane Friendly】: Big size (H*W*T)27x55x18cm /10.63*21.65*7.09'', 0.6kg/1.3LB weight. (For reference only, please refer to the actual measurement). The perfect carry-on compliant bag for airline travel. Integrated trolley sleeve slides over rolling luggage handle making airport travel a breeze. Your ideal overnight weekend boarding bag for business or personal travel.
- ✅【Comfort and Convenience】: Shoulder strap is removable to protect your shoulder while carrying. If you have a spinner suitcase or other rolling luggage, lighten up the load and slide the integrated luggage sleeve over your luggage handle for stable and convenient carrying. Trolley sleeve zips closed and doubles as an additional external pocket when not in use.
- ✅【Multi-purpose Design】: The overnight bag comes with a large darable adjustable shoulder strap can relax your hands if you prefer to carry it over the shoulder that made toting it around so much easier as a shoulder weekender bag. Large capacity travel totes bag , Multiple internal and external organizational pockets ensure you have a place for everything, fit 15.6 inch laptop computer.
- ✅【Dry Wet Separated】: The high density water resistant material can help you to separate dry items and wet items,if you have wet clothes or towel,you can put it in carry-on compliant bag.
- ✅【Buy with Confidence】: BJLFS travel tote bag is a perfect reliable companion for both indoor and outdoor sports.It is a travel duffel bag for a workout, travel, weekender away, sports activity like fitness, swimming, yoga etc.Suitable faor gym sport duffle bag, travel holdall bag,etc.We always stand behind the quality of our product. If you have any issues, we are very happy to either provide a no-questions-asked refund or replacement in one month,. ORDER NOW WITH NO RISK!
- 💙【Upgrated Travel Duffel Bag Set】: Come with a crossbody bag and a toiletry bag. 2 adjustable & detachable straps( wide for the weekender bag and thin for the crossbody bag). You could also use the wide strap to turn the bag into a shoulder bag. We believe it'll help you better sort out your belongings for the upcoming trip.
- 💙【Expandable Shoe Compartment】: The expandable bottom compartment for your shoes and clothes could help increase the capacity of the bag from 31L to 42L. The weekender bag also comes with 2 extra free shoe bags which help you to pack the shoes or dirty clothes. Therefore, you could choose the size of the bag as you wish on different occasions.
- 💙【Gym Bag with Wet Compartment】： A zippered waterproof PVC lined pocket for wet clothes or towels and a bathing suit. There are also 3 outside pockets for easy asses and a luggage strap for setting it on roll-away luggage. This gym duffel bag has enough room to keep all your stuff (clothing, makeup, hair styling tools, snacks, shoes, and more)
- 💙【Durable Construction& Water-proof】： This tote bag for women is made with durable and water-resistant polyester to protect your items from getting wet or being damaged.
- 💙【Daily multi-scene use】： A perfect choice for carrying all your gym and travel essentials. Use it as an airplane travel bag, luggage bag, gym sports bag, weekender bag, carry-on bag, hospital bag, or beach bag. Our overnight bag is suitable for both indoor and outdoor sports, such as travel, sports, weekend trips, yoga, gym, beach, business, or other daily use.
- Compact Sizes- 20.5(L) x 9.8(W) x 13.6(H) inch. Weight: 2.2lbs, this carry on bag meets most international carry-on requirements
- Large Capacity-Roomy space can fits in 3-4 days of daily essentials, Main compartment fit into your clothes, cosmetics, documents, baby supplies and other items you need. With 2 slip pockets and 1 mesh pocket for electronic equipments
- Durable & Water Resistant- Made of 600D polyester fabric, tear-resistant and retain shape. Premium metal SBS zippers + convenient carry handle + detachable shoulder strap to offer you better usage experience
- Travel Friendly- Independent shoes compartment: Perfectly separate your dirty shoes and clean clothes. 1 waterproof PVC pocket can separate dry and wet items. Handy front pocket for easy access to your passports, and mobile phones
- Multi-purpose-Your best travel companion,can be used as duffle bag,travel bag,carry on bag, weekender bag, overnight bag. Carry all your travel essentials. it can also be used as a gift bag for women and men
The following is a list of our favorite carry on travel bags, broken down by category.
Best Overall: eBags TLS Mother Lode Weekender Convertible
If you’re looking for the best overall carry on travel bag, we recommend the eBags TLS Mother Lode Weekender Convertible. This bag is large enough to fit everything you need for a weekend getaway, but it’s still small enough to be considered a carry on bag by most airlines. It also has a variety of convenient features, such as a detachable shoulder strap and an exterior pocket for quick access to your boarding pass or other items.
Best Lightweight: Osprey Farpoint 40
If you’re looking for a lightweight carry on travel bag, we recommend the Osprey Farpoint 40. This bag is made from durable yet lightweight materials, and it has a variety of features that make it perfect for travelers who want to pack light. For example, the shoulder straps are designed to be comfortable even when carrying a heavy load, and the bag has both front and side zip pockets for easy access to your belongings.
Best for Business Travel: Tumi Alpha 2 Expandable 4 Wheeled Carry-On
If you’re a business traveler, we recommend the Tumi Alpha 2 Expandable 4 Wheeled Carry-On. This bag is designed to be both stylish and functional, with a variety of features that will make your travels easier. For example, the bag has four wheels for easy maneuverability, and it expands up to 2 inches to give you extra space when you need it. Additionally, the bag has a built-in laptop sleeve and multiple interior and exterior pockets for organizing your belongings.
Best for Families: Travelpro Maxlite 5 Expandable Rollaboard Suiter
If you’re traveling with a family, we recommend the Travelpro Maxlite 5 Expandable Rollaboard Suiter. This bag is large enough to fit everything your family needs for a trip, but it’s still small enough to be considered a carry on bag by most airlines. It also has a variety of features that will make your travels easier, such as an expandable design that gives you extra space when you need it and a built-in suiter system that keeps your clothes wrinkle-free.
Best for Frequent Flyers: Briggs & Riley Baseline Domestic Expandable Upright
If you’re a frequent flyer, we recommend the Briggs & Riley Baseline Domestic Expandable Upright. This bag is designed specifically for travelers who fly often, with features that make it easy to transport your belongings. For example, the bag has a durable yet lightweight construction, and it expands up to 2 inches to give you extra space when you need it. Additionally, the bag has a variety of interior and exterior pockets for organizing your belongings, and it comes with a built-in garment bag that’s perfect for keeping your clothes wrinkle-free.
Best Splurge: Rimowa Topas 22″ Multiwheel
If you’re looking for a luxurious carry on travel bag, we recommend the Rimowa Topas 22″ Multiwheel. This bag is made from high-quality materials, and it features a variety of convenient features, such as four wheels for easy maneuverability and an expansion system that gives you extra space when you need it. Additionally, the bag has a built-in garment sleeve and multiple interior and exterior pockets for organizing your belongings.
Factors to consider for the best carry on travel bags
First, consider the type of traveler you are. Are you a light packer or a heavy packer? Do you need a lot of space for clothes and other items, or can you get by with just a few key pieces?
Second, think about the kind of trip you’re taking. Will you be doing a lot of walking or hiking? If so, you’ll want a bag that’s comfortable to carry and has enough space for all your gear. On the other hand, if you’re mostly staying in one place, you won’t need as much space and can focus on finding a bag that’s stylish and easy to transport.
Finally, consider your budget. There are a variety of the best carry on travel bags available at different price points, so it’s important to find one that fits within your spending limit. With a little bit of research, you should be able to find the perfect carry on travel bag for your next trip.
Pros and cons of the best carry on travel bags
There are a variety of factors to consider when choosing the best carry on travel bag for your needs. Below, we will discuss some of the pros and cons of several popular options so that you can make an informed decision.
Rolling luggage is perhaps the most popular type of carry on travel bag. These bags are easy to maneuver through busy airports and train stations. They also tend to be roomy enough to fit everything you need for a short trip. However, rolling luggage can be heavy and difficult to lift into overhead bins.
Backpacks are another popular option for carry on travel bags. Backpacks are lighter and easier to carry than rolling luggage. They also distribute weight more evenly, making them more comfortable to wear for long periods of time. However, backpacks can be difficult to maneuver through crowded spaces and may not have enough room for everything you need to pack.
Duffle bags are a good option for travelers who want a bag that is both spacious and easy to carry. Duffle bags often have wheels and a shoulder strap, making them easy to transport. However, duffle bags can be cumbersome to carry and may not fit in overhead bins on some planes.
Tote bags are a stylish and convenient option for carrying your essentials while traveling. Tote bags can be easily stored in overhead bins and are comfortable to carry. However, they are often not large enough to fit all of your belongings, and they can be difficult to close securely.
When choosing the best carry on travel bag for your needs, it is important to consider your individual travel style. Consider how much space you need, how much weight you are willing to carry, and how important convenience is to you. With so many different types of carry on travel bags available, you are sure to find one that meets your needs.
How strict are airlines with carry-on size?
Carry-on luggage size restrictions vary by airline, but are generally quite strict. For example, American Airlines requires that carry-on bags be no larger than 22x14x9 inches, including all handles and wheels. Delta’s size limit is 22x14x9 inches as well, while Southwest allows slightly larger bags at 24x16x10 inches. United’s limit is slightly smaller at 22x14x7 inches.
These size limits can be hard to adhere to, especially if you’re trying to pack for a long trip. And, if your bag is even a few inches too big, you may have to check it at the gate, which can be a hassle (and may even incur an additional fee). So, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and make sure your carry-on bag is well within the size limits of your chosen airline.
In general, it’s a good idea to pack light when travelling by air. Not only will this make it easier to adhere to size restrictions, but it will also make your trip overall more pleasant (and less stressful). So, before packing your carry-on bag, take a look at the size restrictions of your chosen airline and plan accordingly. And, remember, if in doubt, leave it out.
What if my carry-on is 2 inches too big?
If your carry-on bag is just slightly too large to fit in the overhead bin, don’t worry. The airlines typically allow for a little bit of wiggle room when it comes to size. However, if your bag is significantly larger than the maximum size limit, you may be asked to check it at the gate.
If you are asked to check your bag, the airline will usually provide a complimentary luggage tag for you to use. You will then need to wait in line at the baggage claim area after your flight arrives in order to retrieve your bag.
In some cases, you may be able to avoid checking your bag altogether by gate checking it. This means that you will need to wait until all of the passengers have boarded the plane and then take your bag to the gate agent. The agent will then tag your bag and store it in a compartment near the door of the aircraft.
When you arrive at your destination, you will need to retrieve your bag from the baggage claim area just like everybody else.
What is not allowed on a plane carry-on?
There are a few items that are not allowed in carry-on baggage, even if they are small or can be easily stored. These items include:
-Liquids, gels, and aerosols: All liquids, gels, and aerosols must be stored in containers that hold 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less per item. These containers must be placed in a single, clear quart-sized bag. Only one bag per passenger is allowed. The bag must be placed in a security bin for inspection.
-Sharp objects: Sharp objects are not permitted in carry-on bags. This includes items such as knives, scissors, razor blades, metal nail files, and tweezers. These items must be placed in checked baggage.
-Bats and clubs: Baseball bats, pool cues, hockey sticks, lacrosse sticks, and ski poles are not allowed in carry-on bags. These items must be placed in checked baggage.
-Guns and firearms: Guns, ammunition, flares, and other fireworks are not permitted in carry-on or checked baggage. If you plan to travel with these items, you will need to make special arrangements with the airline ahead of time.
-Self-defense sprays: mace and pepper spray are not allowed in carry-on or checked baggage. You may be able to bring these items if they are for medical purposes only and have been approved by the TSA.
-Tools: Tools such as hammers, wrenches, and saws are not allowed in carry-on bags. These items must be placed in checked baggage.
-Sports equipment: Sports equipment such as golf clubs, footballs, and hockey sticks are not allowed in carry-on bags. These items must be placed in checked baggage.
For more information on what you can and cannot bring on a plane, please visit the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) website.
What do you have to take out of your bag at airport security?
As you approach the airport security checkpoint, you will need to remove a few items from your bag. These include laptops, tablets, and any other electronics larger than a cell phone. You will also need to take out your liquids and gels, which must be in containers that hold 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less per item. All of these items must be placed in a clear, quart-sized bag.
You may also be asked to remove your shoes and belts, as well as any jackets or outerwear. Remember to empty your pockets before going through the scanner. Once you have placed all of your belongings on the conveyor belt, step through the metal detector and collect your things on the other side.
Now that you know what to expect, going through airport security will be a breeze.
Is a suitcase or duffel bag better for carry-on?
There are pros and cons to both suitcase and duffel bag styles when it comes to carry-on luggage.
Suitcases tend to be more structured, with compartments and pockets that can help keep items organized. They usually have wheels and a handle, making them easy to transport through an airport or train station. However, they can be heavier and more difficult to store in overhead bins.
Duffel bags are often lighter than suitcases and can be easier to pack since they don’t have as many compartments. They can also be more versatile, as they can be carried by hand, over the shoulder, or even on your back like a backpack. But duffels can be more difficult to transport through busy areas and may not fit as easily in overhead bins.
So, which type of bag is better for carry-on? It really depends on your personal preferences and travel needs. If you are looking for a light bag that is easy to pack, a duffel bag might be a good option. But if you need a bag with more structure and organization, a suitcase could be a better choice.
